Trump criticizes U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro over dropped vandalism case

President Donald Trump on Monday hurled more criticism at Jeanine Pirro as he fumed over the federal prosecutor's decision to drop her Reflecting Pool vandalism case after admitting damage to the water feature was caused by a botched installation.

Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, "made a mistake" and "choked" by moving to dismiss the indictment against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Asked if he was reconsidering Pirro's role, Trump did not directly answer, saying "I don't know what" and then lashing out at the reporter who posed the question.

The White House, asked later Monday whether Trump continues to support Pirro in her current role, referred CNBC back to the president's comments in the Oval.

Trump's hostility toward Pirro raises questions about whether, or under what circumstances, the president has the ability to oust lawfully appointed U.S. attorneys.

Pirro's case against Hearn, filed in early July, accused the 67-year-old of damaging the pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial by ripping up part of its sealant with his hands. But in a Friday afternoon court filing in D.C. Superior Court, Pirro wrote that after filing the charges, her office received additional information indicating that a "flawed installation" by the contractor was to blame for the damage.

Trump — who frequently touts the renovation and has repeatedly claimed the project was sabotaged by vandals with knives and box cutters — quickly lashed out at Pirro, writing on Truth Social, "I don't know what she was thinking?"

He ratcheted up the criticism even further in the Oval Office Monday afternoon.

"I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro," he said. "She folded like an umbrella, and people get away with things, and it's a disgrace."

Pirro's office did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Trump has fired other U.S. attorneys.

In mid-July, he dismissed Roger Rogoff less than an hour after he was sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington. He had been unanimously appointed by a judicial panel — but acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X, "District court judges can appoint a temporary U.S. Attorney, and POTUS can fire them."

Rogoff has sued, arguing his firing was unconstitutional.

Last year, the Trump administration fired Desiree Leigh Grace, whom a judicial panel had selected to serve as U.S. attorney for New Jersey, as it tried to keep Trump's former personal lawyer, Alina Habba, in the role.

During Trump's first presidential term, New York federal prosecutor Geoffrey Berman had initially resisted an attempt by then-Attorney General William Barr to fire him. Berman left the role after Barr told him that Trump had fired him.